The exact origin of stained glass is not known, but we do
know that the earliest stained glass window that is still intact is from St.
Paul’s Monastery in Jarrow, England and dates back to approximately 680 AD. But
evidence shows that ancient Egyptians and Romans also likely created stained
glass.
The Egyptian village of Qantir shows evidence of an ancient
glass-making factory. Ancient Egyptian materials that were uncovered show that
these artisans would combine crushed quartz with the remains of burned plants.
This was then heated in clay jars, ground into a powder, and then combined with
chemicals to produce a red or blue color.
In the Medieval Period in Europe, stained glass
window-making began to flourish and peaked during the Gothic Period. This trend
remained strong across the countries of Europe well into the Renaissance
Period, before its popularity began to decline.
During this period in America, stained glass was in its
infancy. Glass-making was the first American industry, founded in 1608 in
Jamestown, Virginia. However, early Christians in America would meet in houses
instead of new church buildings to worship and any new church buildings were
usually adorned with shutters instead of windows.
Evert Duyckingh opened a glass-window business in New
Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1637 or 1638. One of his specialties
was creating family coats of arms in windows. He eventually hired an apprentice
named Cornelius Jansen who is on record requesting payment from a church in
1656 that had purchased his glass windows.
In 1654, Jan Smeedes had a glass business in Manhattan that
began manufacturing roundels. A roundel is a circular glass window that often
contains emblems. Several centuries passed before William Gibson opened a glass
manufacturing operation in 1834 in New York City. This first attempt was not
successful, but Gibson attempted the business once more later in the 19th
century, during which he proclaimed himself to be the “father of glass
painting”. It was at this time that Harry Horwood began to work for Gibson.
Horwood worked for Gibson during the 1870s and it was during
this time that he restored the stained glass windows at the famous Vanderbilt
Mansion in New York City. Shortly after, in 1876, he opened his own stained
glass business in Ottawa. He eventually opened a second office in New York
City, when he created the stained glass for the Ogdensburg Opera House in
Ogdensburg, New York.
Robert Bolton came to New York from England and created the
first known American-made figural window in 1843 for the Nativity for Christ
Church in Pelham, New York. He returned to England and opened a stained-glass
business. His brother, John, also made stained glass in America.
The trade was slow to get off the ground in the U.S. and
struggled until the end of the 19th century. In 1880, John LaFarge, a
famous American muralist, invented opalescent stained glass windows. He and
Louis Tiffany, whose family started the famous Tiffany and Company, fought over
who was the true inventor. Information on the subject is inconclusive, but
apparently, both claim to be the first to utilize opalescent sheets in windows.
Tiffany went on to start the Tiffany Glass Company, which produced thousands of
windows. LaFarge and Tiffany also utilized the confetti, drapery, and ridged
styles in stained glass windows.
Other major artists came onto the scene creating stained
glass and incorporating it into larger projects. Well-known architect and
interior designer, Frank Lloyd Wright, was also a creator of stained glass
windows and used them in many of his major projects, including Robie House in
Chicago.
Gothic-style stained glass windows were now gaining popularity
in America and in Europe, renewing the styles from the Medieval Period. Stained
glass in multiple styles was being seen across the country in several different
church denominations. This revived interest ran strong until the depression hit
in the 1930s and 1940s.
Today, stained glass is gaining in popularity again and is
offered in many different styles. Options and looks are seemingly endless,
especially when the manufacturer takes on custom orders. Stained glass is being
incorporated into residential décor, businesses and churches across the
country.
